Carrier for pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus.



PATENTED JAN. 29, 1907.

J. S. PALMER. CARR-1BR FOR PNEUMATIC ,DESP-ATCH TUBE APPARATUS.-

ArPmoulofi nun Hume. 1906.

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PATENTED JAN. 29, 1907. J. S. PALMER.

CARRIER FOR PNEUMATIC DBSPATGH TUBE APPARATUS.

APPL IGATION FILED FEB.2B. 1906.-

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. vide an improved hinge and latch for the cover.

JOHN s. PALMER, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CARRIER FOR PNEUMATlC-DESPATCH-TUBE APPARATUS- Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Jan. 29, 1907.

Application filed February 28, 1906. Serial No. 303,450.

cover for the carrier characterized particularly by the fact that it maybe rotated on its hinge so as to expose either side thereof, one sidebeing marked Full and the other side being marked, Empty," so as toindicate whether or not the carrier contains any A further object of theinvention is to pro- A further object is to provide an improvedindicator on the cover to show the destination of the carrier.

With these and other objects in view the invention is hereinafterdescribed and claimed and is illustrated in the accompanying drawin thedrawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the carrier. Fig. 2 is acentral longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a rear end view showing thecover in one position. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the coverreversed. Fig. 5 is a plan view with the upper part of the coverremoved, showing the indicating and locking mechanism. Fig. 6 is'an endview with the cover swung open. Fig. 7 is an end view of amodificationin which the settable indicator is not used, the cover beingprovided with a fixed indicator for direct service.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 6 indicates the cylindrical bodyor casing of the carrier, provided at its head or front end with abuffer 7 and at its rear end with a door or hinged cover, to behereinafter described. The door fits within a metal rim 8. which has aninternal shoulder 9, upon which the door rests when closed. At its rearend the carrier has a skirt 10 around the same. This is attached to thebody of the carrier at its front edge-and is free to flare at its rearedge, so that the air-pressure will expand it against the sides of thetransmission-tube and force the carrier along therein.

The cover consists of a plate 11, preferably made of metal and of propersize and shape to fit closely within the rim 8. It has a diametricalbore or cored recess within the boss 12, containing a round hinge-bolt13 and a latch-bolt 14. The hinge-bolt is pivoted at its outer end by a'pintle 15 in a notch 16 in the rim between knuckles 17 on oppositesides of the notch, and the bolt has a lateral projection 18, which stos against the rim' at the bottom of the notcii to limit the swing openof the lid; At its inner end the hingebolt has a circular groove 19 andon opposite sides thereof is flattened or cut away, as at 20. A pin 21extends through the cover at one side of the hinge-bolt, and when thecover is closed lies against one of the flat surfaces 20. When the coveris open, the pin is opposite the groove 19.

The latch-bolt 14 is slidable in and out an when advanced engages at itsouter end in a notch 22, made in the rim toreceive it. At its inner endit is connected by a crossin 23 to buttons 24 on opposite surfaces of te lid. The pin 23 works in slots 25 in the cover.

.26 indicates a coiled spring located in the bore between the inner endsof the hinge-bolt 13 and the latch-bolt 14. It has two functions. Ittends to force out the latch-pin 14, and it also tends to lift oradvance the cover along the hinge-bolt. The cover is rotatable on thehingebolt, so it may be turned to expose either side. It is also movablelengthwise on the hinge-bolt to the extent permitted by the pin 2 1.When in closed position,-the cover is shoved in or down toward the pivotof the hinge, the pin 21 sliding along into one of the.

s aces 20. When the cover is unlatched and lifted, the springimmediately forces it outwardly, the pin 21 sliding along until itreaches the notch 1 9, where it stops against the far side of the notch.This action lifts or projects the cover out of engagement with the rim8, as shown in Fig. 6, permitting the cover to be turned on thehinge-bolt; The pin 21 turns in the groove 19, and when the cover isreversed it may be again closed by pressing in or down thereon, at whichtime the pin 21 enters the s ace 20 "on the opposite side of thehinge-b0 t, the latch 14 beingretracted to allow the cover to close.These 1 quently it cannot move or yield to allow the actions take placeby one movement or manipulation of the button 24. When the button ispushed to close the door, its first action is to retract the latch.Continued pressure causes the sliding movement inwardly of the cover onthe hinge-bolt until 1t is opposite its seat in the rim, when it willdrop within the rim, and release of the button allows the catch toengage its notch. It will benoticed that when the cover is open the pin21 is opposite the groove 19, and hence although the cover may berotated on the bolt 13 it cannot be closed until it is in properpositionthat is, with the pin 21 opposite one of the truncations 20norcan it close accidentally, because should it fall to unintentionally itwill strike uponthe outside of the rim and be held there in consequenceof its being extended out of position or off center by the spring 26.One movement or snap of the button 24: will both retract the latch andopen or close the cover, the action being practically very quicklyperformed.

One side of the cover is marked Full and the other Empty. On the Emptysideis a number or mark (indicated at 26*) to tell the home station ofthe carrier, so that when the Empty side is exposed the operator by' aglance at the number will be able 4 to despatch the carrier to suchstation without further examination. When the side marked Full isexposed, the destination. primarily at least, is the central station. Itis frequently desirable in pneumatictube systems to send papers or othermatter from one station to another. For this purpose an indicator isprovided, which may be set at the sending-station to indicate thereceivingstation, so that when the carrier comes to central the operatormay, by inspection of the indicator, transfer and despatch the carrierto the receiving-station without opening the same for examination of itscontents. The indicator referred to consists of two dials 27,.providedwith numbers which may be exposed through a slot 28 in the Full side ofthe cover. These dials are located in a recess in the body of the coverand are turned by means of finger-pieces 29. To hold the dials as set, alock therefor is provided consisting of-a U-shaped piece 30, of flatthin metal, which is located in a recess in the cover communicating withthe recess containing the dial. The recess containing the piece 30 opensat the edge of the cover, so that the outer edge of said piece isnormally flush with the outer edge of the cover. The ends 31 of theUshaped piece engage in notches 32 in the dials, and the piece isnormally held in engagement therewith by a spring 33, bent in tensionover a stud 34. When the cover is closed, the outer edge of l ends 31 toslip out of the notches32. Hence the indicator cannot be changed untilthe cover is opened. Then the dials may be turned, because the piece 30can yield outwardly, allowing the ends 31 to slip out of the notches.

The construction shown affords means for the rapid and convenienttransportation and interchange of carriers in a pneumatic system withsmall chance of confusion or mistake. The cover cannot be closed oropened accidentally, and the necessary indications are all on the coverwhere they may be readily seen when the cover is opened or closed.

To prevent any station detaining carriers or successfully using anycarriers other than its own, means are provided for preventing theindicator being set for the home station. T hose means consist of a lug32 on each indicating-wheel 27. These lugs are located at the numberscorresponding to the number 26 of the home station and by their contactact as stops to prevent turn of the indicatingwheels and to )revent saidwheels being set at the number 0 the home station. For example: Assumingthat 2 1 is the home station and is sending papers to station 60. Theattendant at may know of matter in course of pre aration to be sent tostation 21 and may tie tempted to hold the carrier for the time being.This is prevented, however, by the lugs re ferred to, which prevent theindicator being set at 21. Consequently the carrier must be returnedempty, and the accumulation of carriers at any station not belongingthereto is prevented. The settable indicator may, if desired, beomitted, as shown in Fig. 7, and the destination simply marked on theFull face of the cover, as by number or by any letter, word, or color,the home station of the carrier being similarly indicated by amark onthe Empty side of the cover.

In addition to its function above mentioned the skirt 10 serves to coverthe metallic parts at the rear end of the casing and so protect the samefrom injury in transmission and also protects the tubes of the system.

I claim 1. The combination with a carrier-shell, of a lid fitting theend of the same, and a hinge connecting the shell and lid, the lid beingmovable outwardly on the hinge when open, so that it will not closeexcept by manipulation.

2. The combination with a carrier-shell having a seat in the endthereof, of a lid hinged to the end of the shell and adapted to closewithin the same upon said seat, and means to move the lid out ofregister with the seat when open to prevent closure of the lid except bymanipulation.

3. The combination with a carrier-shell, of a lid for the end thereofhaving a diametrical the piece 30 is against the rim. Consel bore, ahinge connecting the shell and lid and 4 a hinge attached thereto onemember of havinga round member extending into one lid rotatable on saidrod and also movable end of said bore, on which the lid is rotatable,lengthwise thereon to a limited extent. and a latch-bolt slidable in theother end of i 7. In a pneumatic-despatch system, a carsaild1borelaidlarranged to engage the shell, to rier lltvlllg thereon anindicator changeable ho the i c osed, to in icate various stations ofthe system, 4. The combination with a carrier-shell, of and means toprevent the indicator being set a lid fitting the end thereof and havinga diato indicate a particular station thereof. metrical bore, and ahinge connecting the S. A lid for carriers having a changeable shell andlid and having a rod or bolt extendi, indicator thereon, and means toprevent ing into the bore, the lid being rotatable and i change thereofwhen the lid is closed. also movable in and out on said rod and hav- 9.The combination with a carrier-shell ing a pro ection extending intosaidbore, and 1 having a lid which fits when closed within the the rodhaving a cigcunferentigal grlooilre and end of the shell, of anindicator having a dial recesses on opposi e s1 es m'o w 110 1 san 5projection extends. J 1 gages the dial and is movable in a recess at o.Thecombination with a carrier-shell, of i the edge of the lid, the rearedge of the latch, a lid having a diametrical bore, a hinge con- 1 whenthe dial 1s moved, pro ectmg beyond I necting the shell and lid andhaving a rod the edge of the lid, so that movement of the tending intosaid bore, on which rod the lid is latch and dial is prevented when thelid is reversible to expose either side and also slidclosed. able to alimited extent, a latch having a bolt I In testimony whereof I havesigned my in the bore and finger-pieces accessible from name to thisspecification in the presence of both sides of the lid, and a spring inthe bore l two subscribing witnesses. 2:31:21; ('lthe mner ends of thelatch-bolt and JOHN S PALMER.

b 6. The combination with a carrier-shell, of Witnesses:

i H. G. BATCHELOR, l

which consists of a circular rod or bolt, and a WM. THEo. ABEL.

set in a recess in the lid, and a latch which en-

